I also used a headlamp. I still use one when I go out at night with the dogs. When I walk the dogs they also get one around their necks. Miss Ava is so black you can't see her so when she is out wandering on her own at night/dark I put a headlamp on her. She has been right in front of me before and I have tripped over her, she is that black. It sure gets black here at night, minus the red flashing runway affect bleeping bleep lights on the bleeping bleep turbines
Having ducks you learn they don't have a single thought process seen through from beginning to end UNLESS you have peas or Lavendar. All they know is until all those peas are gone they aren't finished. I swear Ducks redefine ADD! Peas or Lavendar in the plastic container shaking if you want them to come from miles around and you can train them to do anything with some peas; Trainable ducks happen when you have peas and Lavendar.
I have a pitchfork with a mesh across it which quickly became my best tool for the coops
clean outs. It sifts the big clumps and let's the clean flax/woodchip/straw bedding fall back in, but the messy clumps were easily retracted with a scoop and a few shakes. (And a
tarp! What an amazing concept that is!! Works sooooo well)
Towards the end of my flock keeping I had a bird bath with a solar powered pump that kept the water flowing with a little splash all day. The ducks couldn't get to it but the chickens learned very quickly (and the bees) that clean water was in the bird bath and all the pullets would sit up on the edge and have their drinks. We all know what ducks do to water in .5 seconds.
And I never do anything without my blue Nitrile gloves on and always a spare set in my pocket in case they rip.